Rafael Nadal of Spain (L) holds the US Open trophy after defeating Kevin Anderson (R) of South Africa in their US Open Men's Singles Final match Septmber 10, 2017 at the Billie Jean King Stadium National Tennis Center in New York Rafael Nadal of Spain (L) holds the US Open trophy after defeating Kevin Anderson (R) of South Africa in their US Open Men's Singles Final match September 10, 2017 at the Billie Jean King Stadium National Tennis Center in New York. Picture: Don Emmert/AFP
With the legendary Rafael Nadal announcing his forthcoming retirement from tennis on Thursday, it’s worth remembering when the Spaniard put paid to the chances of South Africa’s Kevin Anderson from becoming a Grand Slam champion.
It was 2017, and Anderson was at the peak of his powers at the age of 31.
Anderson had made it all the way to the final of the US Open, in the first time he had made it beyond the fourth round of a major.
The big-serving Anderson who would reach a career high of fifth on the ATP singles rankings the next year, however, came up against an unstoppable force.
That force of course, was Nadal.
Though Anderson sent down 10 aces to just the two of Nadal, that was the only statistic where the SA player edged his opponent.
In the end, Anderson was no match for a peak Nadal as the left-hander won in straight sets 6-3 6-3 6-4.
For Anderson it wouldn’t be the last time he made it to a Grand Slam final though, as he equalled that feat at Wimbledon in 2018. Again, Anderson would have to come up against another member of the ‘big three’ (Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer).
On that occasion, it would be another mismatch against Djokovic who romped to a straight sets victory 6-2 6-2 7-6..
It’s difficult to not imagine what might have been, had Anderson’s career not coincided with that of Nadal, Djokovic and Federer.
In fact, Anderson is just one month older than the legendary Spaniard and a year younger than Djokovic. Perhaps, Anderson could well have had a couple Grand Slam titles to his name, while some of his peers will go down as three of the greatest to have ever played the game.